Knockdown house.



A. A. KAMlN.

KNOCKDOWN HOUSE.

' APPLICATIUN FILED APR.19.19$6- 1,263,068. Patented Apr. 16,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- AITORNEYS amsnn'r a. mum, or cnIcaeo, ILLmoIs.

KNOCKDOWN HOUSE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. is, 1918.

Application filed April 19, 1916. Serial No. 92,127.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT A. KAMIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Knockdown Houses; and I do hereby declare that the following description .of my said invention, taken 1n connection with the accompanying sheet of drawing, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which is appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates generally to improvements in knockdown houses, and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar combination of parts and details of coi1 struction, as hereinafter first'fully set forth and described and then pointed out in the claims.

This invention refers to knockdown houses for camping purposes, the use of consumptives, for living out of doors in the open air, and the like; and-its object is the production of a simple, cheap, and eflicient structure which can be easily and quickly assembled by the merest tyro, and readily knocked down for shipment, occupyin when so disassembled but little room, an being capable of being packed in a crate or a box of little compass.

In the drawings already mentioned which illustrate this invention ve fully, and form a part of this specificatlon, Flgure 1 is a vertical longitudinal or transverse section of my invention, the plan of which is, preferably, square in outline. Fig. 2 is a plan of mysaid invention. Fi 3 IS an elevation of one of the end roo rafters and side wall plates assembled. Fig. 4: is an edge view of said rafter, showing the means of fastening the same to the side frames. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the ridge rafter, spacers, and rafter-lockin means. Flg. 6 is an elevation of a detai of construction.

Fig. 7 is a plan thereof.

Like parts are designated by the same characters'and symbols of reference in all the fi res.

In t ese drawings A, designates the house in its entirety, and i B, the I floor thereof. This floor comprises a plurality of separate sections mounted upon marginal scantlings C, and a medial scantling C. These marginal scantlings C, project beyond the edges of the floor B, so as to afford a continuous ledge 10, along the four edges thereof, and upon these ledges the walls of the house are erected. These walls, which comprise two side, and two end walls, consist each of a plurality of frames or panels D, consisting each of a, preferably paneled, base board 11, a top rail 12, two side members or stiles 13, and an intermediate horizontal rail 13. The

openings in these panels are closed by typical wire screens 14; or when the house is to be weather-proof, by filling panels, some of which may be glazed to allow light" entering the inclosure.

The side and end walls are secured to the marginal scantlings C, in the following manner:

To the base board 11, near the lower margin thereof thereis fastened a connector comprising a metallic plate 15, best seen in Figs. 6 and 7, said plate being vertically disposed and terminating in a round, her, which is offset at the plate and has a downwardly extending shank 16, ending in a horizontal member 17 thereby formin a hook, the object of which will hereinafter appear.-

Into the outer edges of the marginal scantlin s C, and registering withthe position of t e plate 15, are placed a corresponding number of elements, preferably metallic screw-eyes 18, or a like media, into the 0 enings of which the shanks 16 are asse so that, when the walls are in erecte position, the hooks 17 will enga e the under sides of the elements 18, and t ereby prevent upward and lateral movement of the wall panels D. The relative position of the shank 16 to the plate 15 is such that as the panels D are being raised, their inner faces are forced against the vertical edges of the -floor, thereby affording a practically tight joint-between the floor and the walls. The outer adjacent vertical edges of the panels D are either tongued and grooved, or are ship-lapped together as indicated in Fig. 2.

Let it be assumed, that the left and right portions shown in Fig. 2, and the to and bottom portions in Flg. 2, are the si es of the building, there is placed upon the panels D of the side walls, wall-slates E, Fig. 1, comprising a strip of woo the under side of which is grooved to embrace the upper margins of the to rails 12; said wall plates being, however, s orter than the length of the sides of the building by one width of a wall plate, the object of which will hereinafter appear.

Upon the upper margins of the end walls, are erected roof-members F, Fig. 3, which comprise two inclined rafters 19. 20, which are connected at their lower ends to the ends of a wall plate 22, similar in construction to the wall plates E. At the ends of the rafters and the wall plate 22, there are provided metallic gusset plates 23, bolted to the rafters and extending downwardly at 24, to embrace the wall plate 22 at its ends and the top rail 12 of the end wall panels, to which these gussets are screw-connected, as at .24, Figs. 3 and 4.

Therafters 19, 20, are connected by a tie strip 25, medially of their length, and from the middle of these tie strips, and reaching to the wall plate 22, there is a king post 26.

' On the inner face of this king post is secured a*meta]lic bar 27 which extends downwardly beyond the wall plate 22, by an ofisetportion to the inner face of the top rail 12, at which point a bolt 28, having a thumb nut, is passed through this plate and said top rail to make a rigid connection between the rafter-structure F and the middle of the end walls. At the peak 21, the rafters are gained or notched for thereception of a ridge pole 29. This. ridge pole has-on its under side spacing blocks 30, which fit between adjacent rafters to maintain distance; and 'to securely connect these rafters to the ridge pole, there is placed on the under side'of the spacing 'blocks 30, adjacent a pair of associated rafbolt 31, which is constructed ters, a slidable removably seto engage looped bars 31*,

cured to the meeting ends of the rafters. By

sliding this bolt in the proper direction, the rafters are locked together, while moving the bolt in the opposing direction, they are released from the ridge pole when it is desired to dismount the building.

In addition to, the combined rafters and wall plates at the ends of the structure, there are provided a plurality of intermediate rafters, spanning the side walls of the house; but these comprise only the inclined rafters 19, 20*, with their ties 25 The lower ends of these intermediate rafters are notched, as

at 32, Fig. 1, to rest upon, and abut against, the side wall plates E. There are of these intermediate rafters as many as necessary, their number depending upon the length of the building. Ordinarily they maybe spaced three feet apart, which is sufficient to support a roof, such as will be hereinafter described. On the inner faces of these rafters, at the lower ends thereof are fixed one leg of angles 33, the other leg depending therefrom contacting with the inner face of the top rail 12, of the side walls. And through these lower legs, and through the top rails 12, there are passed bolts 34, which are proscrewed up,

ably constructed acaoes vided with thumb nuts 34", which when will securely fasten the angles 33 to the top rails 12, and with them the roof rafters. And it may be noted that the connecting and disconnecting of the roof structure F is accomplished without the use of a screw wrench or other tool, by theemployment of bolts having thumb nuts, as shown.

The bolts 34- have downwardly extending portions which are formed into hooks 35, the object of which will further on appear:

Through the house, adjacent the side and end walls, extend a plurality of horizontally disposed rods 36. These rods pass through the opposing corner panels 1) of the side walls and the corresponding corner panels of the end walls respectively; and they are, on the exterior of these walls, provided with thumb nuts 37, which when screwed up will render the entire structure firm and rigid in every direction. On the sides of the vertical members 13, of the panels D there are provided loops 38, which by preference, and for reason of adaptabilityand economy, may be the common steel screw eyes of commerce, through which the rods 36 are passed, .thereby assisting in maintaining the alinement of the panels D, and resisting inward as well as outward movement thereof under wind and other stresses. On the upper and lower of these rods .36 may be arranged sliding curtains, not shown, whereby occupants of the house may be protected from the sun, wind, and rain; and when these curtains are employed, the weight of which when wet in case of rain, will be considerable, these'rods over the books 35 on the bolts 34, hereinbefore described. I

The roof proper of this house is preferof water-proof duck or canvas 43, cut to proper shape and stitched together; and this roof is then stretched over the rafters and the ridge pole. The mar ginal edges of this textile roof are provided with spaced-apart gromets; and on the outer edges of the wall plates E and 22, there are arranged equally-spaced turn buttons 39, which engage the gromets and securely hold the, roof, and the gable-portions of the roof fabric in position.

For the purpose of entrance to, and exit from, the house, I provide the same with a door 40, Fig. 2, which also serves the wall panels D. To produce this door, 1 fix a narrow strip 41, preferably at a corner of the house, which strip is rabbeted. I then provide the vertical side member 13 of the adjacent wall panel with hinges 12, Fig. 2, to which the door 40 is connected, whereby the desired result is accomplished in a neat and workmanlike manner.

I have hereinbefore mentioned that the wall-plates E at the sides of the structure are shorter than the length of the building by one width of a wall plate, which is necas one of cssary to bring the corners of the walls in close contact with each other, the end wall plates 22 being of a length equal to the width, out-to-out, of the structure.

To erect this portable structure, the floor sections B are placed upon the scantlings C, C the screw-eyes 18 placed in proper position, and the side panels D placed flat upon the ground adjacent the floor, the hook portions of the connector placed into the eyes of the members 18, the wall plates E and the roof structures F located on the top rails 12 and properly secured as heretofore described, and then the walls raised to vertical I position, which causes the hooks 17 to rotate in the eyes 18 and to engage the underside thereof. Now the rods 36 are placed in position, the medial rafters located properly, the ridge pole placed and locked to the rafters, and finally the fabric roof applied, when the building is ready for occupancy, the entire erection being accomplished in a very short space of time, by a mere tyro, it being understood that all the parts entering into the construction, of this ortable house have been completed at the actory, and assembled as far as possible, and shipped in the knocked-down condition, properly crated, to the place of erection.

I have hereinbefore stated that the plan of the building is a square, 2'. e. that the sides and ends thereof are of equal length; but it is obvious that this is not essential and that an oblong building can be constructed and erected in substantially the same manner as heretofore described.

Having thus fully described this 1nvention, I claim as new, and desire to secure to myself by Letters Patent of the Umted States:

1. A portable knock-down house, including, in combination, a floor, scantlingsunderlying said floor, said scantlin s projecting beyond the mar 'ns of said oor to afford a continuous le ge around the edges of said floor, a plurality of elements projectin from the outer edges of said scantlings, sai elements having through-apertures, a series of upstanding panels constructed to rest upon said ledges, metallic connectors at the lower edges of said panels, said connectorsincluding plates fastened to said panels, said plates terminating in a round shank having an offset adjacent said plate, said shank terminating in a hook, said hook being constructed to enter the apertured element when the panels are in horizontal position and to rotate in said apertures and to engage the lower surface of said element when said panels are being raised to vertical position, wall-plates at the up er margins of said panels, and horizonta ly disposed he-rods connecting the opposing side and end walls.

2. A. knock-down house, including, in combination, a floor, scantlings underlying said floor, said s'cantlings projecting beyond the ,margins of said floor to afford a continuous ledge around the edges of said floor, a plurality of elements projecting from the outer edges of said scantlings, said elements having apertures, a series of upstanding panels constructed to rest upon said ledges, connectors at the lower margins of said panels, said connectors including metallic plates fastened to said panels, said plates terminating in an offset, round shank, said shank having a bar at right angles to said shank to aflord a hook, said hook being constructed to enter the apertured element when the panels are in horizontal position, and to rotate in said apertured element and to engage the lower surface thereof when said panels are being elevated to vertical position, wall plates at the upper edges of said panels, horizontally disposed tie rods at the upper and lower ends of said panels connecting the opposing side and end walls, and metallic loops on the inner faces of said panels, said loops engaging said tie rods to prevent inward and outward movement of said panels.

3. A collapsible, portable building, including, in combination, a floor, said floor having depressed edges around its four margins, a series of matched-together panels forming the four walls of said building, said walls including two side and two end walls resting upon said edges, wall plates on two opposing side walls, a roof structure on the opposing end walls, said roof structure including wall plates on the latter end walls, rafters removably fixed to the latter end plates, means on said rafters connecting them to the end walls, connectors at the lower margins of all the walls, and members on said floor connecting with said connectors in such a manner that when said walls are being raised from a horizontal to a vertical position, said walls will be locked to said floor by said members.

4. In a knock-down building, the combination, of a floor, upstanding, matched-to-.

gether, side panels upon said floor, grooved wall plates at the upper ends of said side panels, said wall plates embracing said panels at their upper ends,- upstanding, matched-together end panels upon said floor, a roof structure on said end panels, said roof structure including grooved wall plates embracing the upper ends of said end panels, inclined rafters movably secured at their lower ends to the latter wall plates, a ridge pole at adjacent ends of said rafters, spacing blocks below said ridge pole, slidable bolts secured to the under side of said spacing blocks, and loops secured to the under side of adjacent ends of said rafters, and adapted for engagement by said sliding bolts.

5. In a knock-down building, the combination, of a floor, upstanding, matched-together side panels mounted on said floor,

grooved wall plates at the upper ends of said side panels, said wall plates embracing the upper ends of said side panels, upstanding, matched-together end panels on said floor, a roof structure on said end panels, said roof structure including grooved wall plates embracing the upper ends of said end panels, inclined rafters removably secured at their lower ends to said wall plates, a ridge pole at the adjacent ends of said rafters, spacing blocks below said ridge pole, means secured to said spacing blocks and said rafters for locking said rafters together, the meansfor securing the rafters to said wall plates including a pair of gussets at each end of said rafters, one of the ends of said gussets being permanently secured to said rafters, the other ends of said gussets being removably secured to said end panels.

6. In a portable knock-down house, the combination, of a floor, oppositely located side panels erected upon said floor, wall plates at the upper ends of said side panels, end panels mounted upon said floor, and a roof structure on said end panels, said roof structure including inclined rafters, a wall plate removably secured to the lower ends of said rafters, a tie bar connecting coacting rafters, a king post medially of said tie bar and said wall plate, and means at the lower end of said king post for removably securing said king post to said end walls.

7 In a portable knock-down house, a base, side and end walls removably located on said base, and a connector for securing said walls naeaoee to said base, said connector comprising a metallic plate, said plate terminating at its lower end in a round rod, said rod being olfset at its junction with said plate, the lower end of said rod being bent at right angles, and an element on said base wherewith said right-angled portion. engages to lock said walls to said base when said walls are in erected position and to permit said walls being removed when said walls are turned down to horizontal position. a

8. In a structure of the nature described, a floor, a ledge around the marginal edges of said floor, said ledge having a vertical wall, spaced-apart elements pro ecting from the margins of said floor, said elements havlng through-openings, walls mounted on said ledges, said walls comprising each a series of separate panels, each of said panels having at its lower end a connector constructed to enter said through openings when said panels are in horizontal position with their bottom edges free from said vertical wall, wall lates at the upper ends of a multiplicity 0 said panels to connect the same and permit the panels being raised to vertical position, thereby causing the connectors to rotate in said through openings to force the inner lower mar ins of said Walls against said vertical shoul ers to afiord tight joints and to prevent lateral and upward movement of said walls. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT A. KAMIN. 

